Landscape Plants & Garden Plans for Illinois

Know Your Zone

• Locate a USDA hardiness zone map for your region. In Illinois' five zones, average minimum temperatures range from 0 to 25 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. You want to select plants that grow well together and that are hardy in similar temperatures. This will ensure that parts of your landscape do not die sooner than others and that the plants' blooming seasons coincide.

Landscape Design

• Decide whether or not you are going to take on the landscaping project yourself. If so, there are several sources from which you can get help. Most home improvement stores and garden centers have staff on hand who can provide advice and guidance on garden planning. Search around on local landscape developers' websites. Usually, landscapers feature galleries and display before and after shots. These are excellent sources for generating ideas and lists of what you do and do not like in a garden.

  Hire a professional. If you choose this route, do your research. A good starting point is the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA). Joining their ranks in 2009 were 97 new members, all of whom can help you hash out the details of a professional landscape design.

Woody Plants

• Woody plants, such as trees and shrubs, make a solid foundation for Illinois landscaping plans. They create focal points in the design and exist year round in the ground, giving you a hub around which to fix other plants.

  Select trees and shrubs that are compatible with the weather in your area of Illinois. Several maples grow well throughout the state, including the Japanese, red and sugar maples. Certain types of chestnut, birch, dogwood and beech are other options.

  Contact a local nursery or grower's outlet. It is a reliable way to guarantee you are selecting trees and shrubs appropriate for your region.

Perennials

• Install perennials throughout your Illinois landscape. Having a strong population of perennials is one of the best ways to save yourself time, as they grow back every year.

  Select perennials that complement the structure around which the landscape is going and make wise decisions regarding color and growth height. Some of the perennials appropriate in Illinois include yarrow, aster, butterfly bush, bleeding heart, coral bells and purple coneflower. That is just a small sampling of perennials that can grow successfully in Illinois---there are literally hundreds from which to choose.

Annuals

• Add color and seasonal freshness to your landscape with annuals. Unlike perennials, annuals will only last throughout their specific growing season. Spring annuals are excellent for bringing in new foliage and color and winter annuals can easily to fill in gaps that cold weather has caused in your landscape.

  Just a few of the annuals appropriate for Illinois landscapes include coleus, verbena, marigold, pansy and petunia.

Edible Plants

• Incorporate edible plants that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional into your landscape. Aside from typical seasonal garden vegetables and fruits, there are several plants and herbs that Illinois' weather supports. Some include serviceberry, blackhaw, rose of Sharon, grape vines, kiwi plant and the American cranberry bush.